“I so much want things to go well for the Department of Mathematics.”

So says Andreas Basse‑O’Connor earnestly, after gazing thoughtfully out the window for a moment to find the words to describe what the department means to him.

“It really is my lifeblood. I feel very attached to the Department of Mathematics, and I have always had great respect for the department. I therefore feel very privileged to be leading the department from April,” he explains with a smile.

Birgit Schiøtt, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, looks forward to welcoming Andreas Basse‑O’Connor when he takes up the role as Head of Department:

“There is no doubt that Andreas Basse‑O’Connor is passionate about the department. He has been a central part of the department’s development in recent years, and he has exciting visions for its continued progress. I can sense that he will go far to ensure a strong Department of Mathematics,” she says.

Today, Andreas Basse‑O’Connor is a professor of stochastics, and since 2023 he has also served as Deputy Head of Department for research. In the latter role, he has gained deeper insight into the organization - among other things through work on a new strategy for the department - and that has sparked fresh visions for the future.

“As Head of Department, I will work to maintain and further develop our strong position in basic research and education. I will also ensure that our researchers have optimal conditions to put their mathematical expertise to use through dissemination and interdisciplinary collaboration. The goal is a department where deep subject expertise is both nurtured and generates broad value,” he says.

The Department of Mathematics’ new strategy includes a point about significantly increasing the number of PhD students, and that is also a task Andreas Basse‑O’Connor will prioritise.

“It is important that we build a targeted focus on establishing good structures for winning grants that can fund PhD positions,” he explains, stressing that the department’s new initiatives are not intended to require more working hours from staff.

“To realise all of the department’s new objectives, we need to organise ourselves more efficiently and work more as a team. The idea is not that all employees should contribute equally to every goal, but that staff members’ different strengths and interests are brought into play in a strategic and purposeful way,” he says.

Andreas Basse‑O’Connor believes that his visions and his passion for mathematics will be a major asset to the department:
“My greatest strength throughout life has been my willpower. In many of the goals I’ve set myself, I haven’t necessarily had the greatest talent, but I’ve had the will to keep going, even when things didn’t come easily, and that has ultimately carried me through. My wife says, ‘You don’t have hobbies, you have obsessions,’ and that’s probably true. The things I care about, I care about deeply - and then I give them everything I’ve got. That goes for the Department of Mathematics as well,” he explains.

The professor will draw on his experience as a research group leader (currently for four PhD students and one postdoc) and as Deputy Head of Department for research. As a leader, he wants to be present and accessible, and he aims to be the kind of leader whom staff naturally approach:

“To be a good leader, it is crucial that I understand what is going on in the department - without that insight, it’s hard to respond in a timely and appropriate way. Together, we can continue working to find solutions to the challenges that arise.”

But it won’t be through his research that people encounter Andreas Basse‑O’Connor, because when he becomes Head of Department he will set his research aside in favour of leadership.

“I need to focus 100 percent on the department. There is so much we need to keep working on, and I also believe the department is best served by me focusing on the task at hand,” he says.

This article is translated with help from Copilot.